A Qualitative Study of the Essential Components of Premarital Counseling from the Perspective of Counselors, Couples About to Get Married, and Married Couples

The present qualitative research was conducted to find the essential components of premarital counseling. The samples were selected via convenience sampling, which included three equal groups of 10 counselors, couples about to get married, and married couples (30 people in total). A focus group meeting was held for each of them, and the data were coded using Strauss and Corbin method. The findings of the research show that the main components from the point of view of these three groups include “examination of values and attitudes, socio-economic status, rules of the family of origin and setting demarcation, attractiveness and physical and sexual health, lack of personality disorder, intellectual and emotional maturity, and preventive skills training”. Furthermore, 31 sub-components were identified. As far as the difference between coding in the three groups is concerned, the results indicated that counselors consider “teaching communicative skills” to be a sub-category of “emotional maturity”, but married couples and couples about to get married considered it to be a sub-category of “teaching premarital preventive skills”. Couples about to get married emphasized checking “physical health”, but counselors suggested thoroughly investigating it while family genogram is illustrated. However, married couples gave it no priority, but strongly emphasized a person’s social and mental issues. The results of this research can be used in premarital counseling or educational workshops in this field. By using these components, it is possible to identify the differences between couples, inform couples about the benefits and possible challenges caused by these differences, and teach them how to manage these differences to properly deal with marital problems.